US highways in Iowa
(decommissioned routes are in italics):
6
18
20
30
32
34
52
55
59
61
63
65
67
69
71
75
77
136
151
161
163
169
218
275
For an explanation of the route listings, click here.

US 69
Length in Iowa: 228 miles/367 kilometers
Northern terminus: Minnesota state line near Emmons, MN
Southern terminus: Missouri state line near Lamoni
Entrance photos

Counties: Worth, Winnebago, Hancock, Wright, Hamilton, Story, Polk, Warren, Clarke, Decatur
Cities along route: Lake Mills, Leland, Forest City, Garner, Goodell, Belmond, Blairsburg, Jewell, Ames, Huxley, Alleman, Ankeny, Des Moines, Indianola, Osceola, Leon, Davis City, Lamoni

NHS: The multiplexed segments with US 18 and IA 3, the segment through Ames, and the segment from Ankeny to the southern split with US 65
Commercial and Industrial Network: The multiplexed segment with US 18 near Garner, and from IA 163 to the interchange with US 65/IA 5 in Des Moines
Freeway segments: None
Expressway segments: About 15 miles (mostly with US 65) between Des Moines and Indianola
Multiplexes:
  • 7 miles with IA 9 north of Forest City
  • 1 mile with US 18 west of Garner
  • 2 miles with IA 3 in eastern Wright County
  • 2 miles with IA 175 south of Jewell
  • 15 miles with US 65, from the interchange south of Des Moines to about 5 miles south of Indianola (see notes on US 65 for previous alignment).
  • ¾ mile with IA 2 in Leon
    		•
    History
    Designated: October 16, 1926, to a segment of IA 1 (I) (the Jefferson Highway), from US 65 at Leon to the Missouri border.
    Paving history: All of US 69 was unpaved at the time of designation, but it was entirely paved by the end of 1929. The 1934 and 1935 extensions were entirely paved except for the segment north of IA 9.
  • 1937: North-south segment north of the split with IA 9 paved
  • 1938: East-west segment west of Lake Mills paved
  • 1939: Last segment, from Lake Mills to the Minnesota state line, paved (on a new alignment that was approved February 20, 1940)
    • Major alignment changes:
  • February 15, 1935 (approved November 20, 1934): Extended northward along part of old US 65 from Leon to the junction with US 6 in Des Moines.
  • May 4, 1935 (approved March 27): Extended to Minnesota border via IA 15 (I) (north of Ames) and US 6; it was co-signed with US 65 between Ames and Des Moines (in addition to the current duplex from Des Moines to Indianola) until 1940.
  • For alignment changes in Des Moines, see the Highways of Des Moines page.
    • Upgrades:
  • December 2, 1971: Expressway segment between Des Moines and Indianola opens (with US 65)
    		•
    Notes
    US 69 follows I-35 for most of its route, although it does not duplex with it anywhere (unlike US 6 and I-80).
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    © 1997-2021 by Jason Hancock / Last updated May 17, 2021